The Grand Sorcerer 7 - (Sofia the First, Cedric!SI)

Speaking, messaging, musing. Those few days had been particularly intriguing considering the idea that the Heartless were potentially entering this domain. As of yet, only one Heartless was found - the one I faced myself.

I asked to Yen Sid, but the master confirmed the barrier was holding well as usual. I asked Merlin, and he ruled it out as a 'random' event. And then I asked to him for an in-depth investigation. The glass-wearing prick was more than happy to get into the trail and see what was up, mostly out of 'interest' to 'catch up to me'.

I didn't like bringing up the past, but if a threat from years ago decided to knock at my door, I had to be absolutely certain this was not meant to be a new habit against me. And while this was happening, I was also taking care of Calista.

My parents, as predictable, were not as united as they used to be when I was little. They couldn't exactly blame others for their marriage's shortcomings after going to live 'a new honeymoon'. They just didn't have that sort of chemistry anymore (if they ever had it).

So, Calista was now my ward. I had to conjure her a proper room. Nothing too fancy, but enough for the girl to have her space, a chance to not feel too much pampered or neglected, and... well, I gave her the best guardian she could get.

My chores as a Royal Sorcerer meant that I was still dealing with businesses a child her age should not be bothered to endure due to how boring or time-draining those could be. Hence why I had decided to let my familiar out despite her own desire to hardly leave her 'gilded exile'.

To be honest, 'Furina' was not someone that was as honest as many would expect. She wasn't a cat, she wasn't a powerful entity as of now, and... she was not a failure. Self-loathing was the cause of her intent to keep her presence around others to a minimum. A punishment she levied against herself out of a sense of shame for a 'messy solution' to a 'messier problem'.

Still, the feline familiar took a liking for Calista... and Sofia. This last bit was worrisome to some extent as the girl seemed to have a knack in worming her way into my personal dramas. While some may call it the 'princess charm over helping those in needs', to me it was the bane of this infuriating show.

The last few days has seen me at work for more than just a few times.

First, Wassailia came upon us as other years. This pseudo-Christmas saw King Roland stuck somewhere away from home and I had to go and bring him back - ruining an episode about 'the meaning of Xmas', but also dodging a chance for a certain snow-themed princess to be summoned.

"I can explain-"

"I sure you can, especially since you went on a risky area when I told you that a storm was coming."

The king was royally chided, mostly on the grounds of disappointing his family if he didn't make it back to home for the holiday.

Second, I had to explain Amber and James that - no, I can't just magic them to have different birthday without some major repercussions. So, instead of that, I just had the two celebrate their birthday in two separate locations. The king was confused by this choice, but my words were sharp and curt over the issue.

"Your children are growing up. Sharing may be caring, but oversharing can be seen as a tedious thing. Especially if you are a twin."

This was enough to avoid a potential magical disaster as these two kids just had to find their own individual peace as they grew up. Twins they may be, but

Third...

"Well, well, well. We finally meet, Cedric the Grand. I am Sasha and-"

"Hello Nettle," I hummed flatly, the 'powerful magician' pausing and then frowning. "I can see through your disguise spell."

Nettle was a recurring annoyance of mine. Even before Sofia came along. She was noisy, greedy, and overall a shitty fairy to deal with. Still, far from a threat even at her worst. Today she made the solid mistake of providing this greeting while the King, the Queen and the kids were around.

They looked a bit surprised, and Sofia was the one that realized what was up.

"T-That's Miss Nettle!"

"You know her, Sofia?" The king asked, and the girl nodded.

"She's a bad fairy. She tricked me a long time ago to try and get the amulet."

"I-I am not bad, just... greedy. Can you blame me, Cedri-" She turned back to me, trying to win me over or something by appearing 'worthy' of some mercy. But she found my wand soon poking at her nose.

"You know what happens now."

She sighed, shoulders sagging as she dropped out of her 'Sasha' disguise as she readied herself for her 'flight'.

"Dangi-"

Without hesitation, the magic I conjured sent her flying upward in a rapid fashion. Like a missile, except she soon tilted her trajectory and landed far away from the castle.

That should have killed lesser beings, but Nettle has a perplexing endurance when it comes to fall damage. Yes, I know from 'trying' to make her not survive this sort of falls. Accidents can happen by being 'childish', I suppose, but never deadly ones for this crappy fairy.

So, another episode dodged and...

I was tired. I got back to my office as I started to write a new essay on a new plant discovered at the edges of the kingdom but... I paused as I realized something unusual.

"We are already at Season 2, huh?"

I hadn't picked up that I was done with Season 1, but I was more confused by the fact that I had hardly felt much of a change when compared to the previous season. I know the difficulty was going to pick up at a sluggish pace since I wasn't the antagonist anymore but...

Meh, I am overinflating things again.

I should just enjoy the fact that another season was finally over and... I felt a magical 'tug' coming from my bond with my familiar. Not even a moment of feeling it that I saw the cat appear from the office's door, strolling up to my desk and then jumping on top of it.

"Afternoon, Furina. Troubles?"

"Only for you. And good evening," The feline spoke, her suave voice carried with a French accent. A voice that was confident and brought up with a pride that was both baffling and amusing. "Calista is having a sleepover with Sofia."

That wasn't exactly ideal. The last thing I needed was for my niece to just tag along with Sofia in her adventures since those could bring her in harm's way and force my hand more than usual.

"Why?"

The cat sighed. "Today is Mother's Day."

...Oh.

"Truly?"

"Your niece didn't know, but the princess mentioned it while whining over her mother's focus on her step-siblings and it caused her some grief," The familiar softly pranced by the desk, then taking to rest her tiny legs on... my unfinished paperwork. Smug little lady. "Alas, that was enough to remove any annoyance from the princess and work to give Calista her first sleepover experience."

"You'll be there with them or do you wish to go back to your perch?"

"I thought of going back," 'Furina' argued, then sighed. "But I know how Calista would behave if I was to 'leave her too'."

I nodded, accepting her wish but-

"I miss my 'mother' too, you know? Even though she left me with a heavy burden."

I nodded again, and the feline stretched a bit.

"Do you think she would be proud of... what I did? Of the sacrifices I made others claim instead of me?"

"You gave up your life."

There was a loud tired sigh that came from 'Furina'. "It was the end of it all. The climax-"

"Preceded by your decision to split yourself and then condemn both to the pains of solitude for your plan to save all to work. One learned the pains of being a perpetual actor, another became a divine machine for the sake of herself."

She yawned. "Which is ironic since you got yourself the 'strongest' of the two."

"...Did I?"

That caused her to turn her gaze to me. "Did you?"

"You don't believe it yourself. And I don't need to explain what 'strength' I am talking about."

"You don't," 'Furina' confessed, finally standing on her legs again and looking ready to leave. "I'll get going. We can discuss more tomorrow. I feel... in the mood to finally talk, John."

I offered a surprised look, but merely nodded at this as I knew that this was indeed a big thing for my familiar. Her past, albeit known to me, was not truly something I knew from her perspective. I knew the general truth and one of the sides' story. I didn't know hers. And she knew I wanted her to talk about it.

Looking at her leaving, I felt a hint of nostalgia at the first time we had this sort of conversations. Many years ago, well after I took her as my familiar. The way I 'claimed' her was unique to both a normal magical and a 'keyblade' magical perspective.

I have to blame my already abnormal nature for this unexpected summoning but... maybe it wasn't that much of a blame-worthy issue. Rather, a peculiar blessing in disguise.

"I will be waiting then..."

I hummed, a small smile forming on my face.

"Focalors."

AN

Next time... Focalors POV!?